We report experimental and theoretical/simulation results from 1-D and 2-D photonic crystals of novel biomaterials that are synthesized in-house at DEVCOM SC. Inspired by these biomaterials and related phenomena, we experiment with sensing analyte molecules for chem/bio detection. Because these biomaterials have high indices of refraction, they confine photons tightly. Optical properties are predicted computationally based on experimental measurements of indices of refraction using variable-angle continuous spectra ellipsometers, with both unfocused and focused probing spots. This biomaterial, when combined with polymers that enable smooth films (polyvinyl acetate, ethyl cellulose, etc.), would be a natural, environmentally friendly, non-toxic, and toxicologically safe material appropriate for scaling up for large-area optical sensing of molecules, especially toxic industrial molecules. We carry out initial research on the detection of analyte molecules in solution via optical methods and compare to simulations. We contrast with inorganic materials for remote sensing, reconnaissance, UAVs, etc. and compare challenges in scalable fabrication including synthetic biology.
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